April 28, 2012

The Fork Union community let Fletcher Arritt know he'll never walk alone.

A 12-hour Walkathon was held at Fork Union Military Academy Saturday to help raise funds to help battle cancer and support Arritt, the long-time basketball coach at FUMA, who was diagnosed with lymphoma last December.

Proceeds from the event, which totaled over $5,000 coming into the day, go towards the Fletcher Arritt Scholarship Fund, the Charles Roger Scholarship Fund and the Jimmy V Foundation.

In addition to the walk, an auction with numerous sports memorabilia was available to help the cause, including a signed Brett Favre football and a signed jersey from former NFL great and FUMA alum Eddie George.

All in an effort to help Arritt, a pillar of the small Fork Union community.

"Probably everyone falls on hard times at some particular time and it's great to have a community surround you and give you the love that you would like to have, which has happened here and I'm very glad for that," Arritt explained.

"I think it brings the community together and it's been a pleasant experience here for the 46 years I've been here."